Glassworking machine



y 2, 1953 R. A HINKLEY 2,637,942

GLASSWORKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l v A o I Z .Z BUTTON INSERT 8o HEAT Rg-HEAT EERFORATE g 75 p05 05.4 POS.8 22 3|. l2|

HEAT P0553 25 p039 sarro/v AUG/YMf/YZ p 52 005.1 U/YLOAD POSJ l 6//V6L/ m cu/rc/l I A IRI Snneutot Gttorneg y 12, 1953 R. A. HINKLEY 2,637,942

GLASSWORKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 attorney May 12, 1953 R. A. HINKLEY GLASSWORKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 25. 1950 m2 mm.

r O h m D n 3 Ray ,4. #l/YKLEY Cittorneg W Iill May 12, 1953 R. A. HINKLEY GLASSWORKING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 25, 1950 mwsntor Gttorneg Patented May 12, 1953 GLASSWORKING MACHINE Itay A. Hinkley, Corning, N. Y., assignor to Corning Glass Works, Corning, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 25, 1950, Serial No. 140,509

8 Claims. 1 V The p es nt i vention relat s to an apparatus f pe r t g a glas rticle wa l a for c sing the resulting perforation with an element throu h which n le ic urre t may b p s twee ppo ite sid f th art cle a The invention is of particular utility in the manufacture of glass cathode-ray tubes of the type now in general use in the television industry. Su h a ube is cu tomarily p vided with a d ct e oat n n it inner su face co ecte with. a circuit ou s de he ube a an elec r cally conductive element, hereinafter referred to as a utton. sea ed nto the tub s dewall.

S v ra w have b n dev loped f alin s h a button nto the u e s dewall y p at- The principal object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus by means Of which the perforation of the sidewall of the tube and the sealing; of the button in such perforation are accomplished entirely automatically at a rapid rate compared to prior practice, and without the need of a skilled attendant.

In accordance with the present invention, an indexed table is provided with a circular row of tube chucks which are successively indexed through tubeeloading, tube-heating, tube-part rating, button-inserting, tubeereheating, buttonalig-ning, and tube-unloading positions. A preferred embodiment of the invention includes ten such positions, in position 1 of which a tube is placed in the tube chuck. In positions 2 and 3 intense, highly localized, heating flames are. directed to opposite wall surfaces, of the tube in the area at. which the perforation is to be made. 1 p s on 4 a c nv n on l fo m o p nch and die functions to make the desired perforation hrou h h heated. an sof nedv class- In position 5 further heating of the glass surrounding the perforation is done. In position 6 a button is deposited in the perforation. In positions '7 and 8,, heat is directed into the button and the adjoining glass to effect a hermetic, union between the glass and the button.

In effectings'uch intimate union between the button and the glass, it sometimes, occurs. that the glass softens to such an extent that the butand h las mm dia e y sur un n it slightly sag. In position 9,. provision is accordingly made to seize and lift this glass and the button into their original position with respect to the tube Wall proper. Also in this position an annealing flame is directed toward the inner wall surface of the tube occupied by the button. In position it the tube is removed from the chuck.

A preferred form of apparatus embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in plan of such pp ratus- Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner of indexing the table and the cam drive arrangement employed in initiating the indexing operation, in controlling the actuation of equipment at the respective indexed positions at which the tube is treated, and in controlling the connection and disconnection of a source of vacuum to a chuck at position 9 employed to effect lifting of the button and the surrounding softened glass.

Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation taken generally on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, side-elevational view, partly in section, of the equipment located at position 9 and showing, in section, a fragment of a tube having a button sealed therein.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of a fragment of the equipment at the button-inserting position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the button-inserting equipment shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view on a reduced scale, taken generally on line 'l-'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view in sectional elevation, of a form of safety valve employed.

Fig. 9 is a similar view of one of a number of such valves actuated by the cams of Fig. 2.

Fig. 1.0 is a diagram, with certain elements shown in section, of the piping for the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 3, l I represents a base provided with a fixed vertical column 12. A table l3. has a hub i4 rotatable about column l2, and has depending rollers 15 by means of which the table is indexed by a cooperative. indexing wheel IS in a conventional fashion each time a shaft i1 supporting such wheel is rotated a single revolution. The precise method of indexing is best illustrated in Fig. 2, which illustrates wheel It asadapted to be periodically driven by means of a single revolution clutch [9 each time an ciated tube. 'precise adjustment of this latter operation.

equipment carried by an arm or bracket of" a spider having a hub 26 surrounding column l2 and locked against relative rotary movement by keys 21. The hub 26 is suspended from a bell 28 which may be vertically moved by means of a hand wheel 3| to adjust the height of spider 25 to that most suitable for the size of ware carried by the chucks 22.

The heating equipment at positions 2,3, 5,7, and 8 is identical except for possible variation in burner detail, and therefore a description of the equipment at position 8 (shown in the righthand portion of Fig. 3) will suffice. A bracket 36 extends upward and outward from spider 25, and at its free end carries a differential pressure -pneumatic unit 31 having a projecting piston rod 38 equipped with a burner 39 supplied with a combustion mixture by a flexible tube 42 and adapted to direct flames toward the wall area of a tube occupied by a button 4| being sealed,

thereinto. The lower end of unit 31 is continuously supplied with air via a flexible tube 43 to maintain burner 39 in a retracted position except at such times that air is being supplied to the Carried on the underside of spider 25 by a bracket 45 is a second pneumatic unit 46, having on the free end of its piston rod (not shown) a As with the- -case of unit 31, the piston rod of unit 46 is nor- '1 burner 48 having a fuel line 48'.

burner 39 is directed only at such times that a chuck is indexed thereover. A pneumatic unit 10 (Fig. 5) similar to unit 46 and provided with a burner 69 similar to burner 48, is also provided at the button-inserting position 6. A similar unit I20 (Fig. 10) at the button-aligning position 9 is also provided with a burner (not shown) for directing heat into the tube area occupied by the button.

The perforating equipment at position 4 (Fig. 3) comprises a die 50 carried on the free end of piston rod 5| of a differential pneumatic unit 52 similar to units 31 and 46 and operated in like fashion. Unit 52, however, instead of being mounted in fixed relation to spider 25, is suspended from the piston rod 55 of a pneumatic unit 56. The unit 52 is adapted to advance the die 50 into vertical alignment with the punch of a pneumatic unit 6|, but stops the die short of the height necessary to bring it into engage- -ment with the tube. Unit 56 is subsequently operated to raise unit 52 the necessary distance to bring die 50 into engagement with the asso- An adjusting cap screw 5'! enables Referring now particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the button-inserting equipment at position 6 includes a turret 1| having three button-holding vacuum chucks, one such chuck 72 being shown.

'Turret 1| is carried on the bottom end of a upper end of the unit via a flexible tube 44, as, more fully explained hereinafter.

shaft 13 passing through a hub 14 integral with a pneumatic unit supported on a bracket 15 extending from spider 25. The upper end of shaft 13 projects a substantial distance above hub 14 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 16. A spring 11 interposed between hub 14 and wheel ,16 normally holds the turret H in engagement with the bottom of hub 14. Pneumatic unit 80 has a piston rod 8| aligned over the turret H and adapted to lower it against the tension of spring 11 a distance required to place a button 4| over the tube perforation 18.

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, it will be observed that a pipe 82, connected to any suitable vacuum source (not shown), communicates with a chamber 83 surrounding shaft 13. Shaft 13 has a tubular bore-85 with passages 86 connecting bore 85 with chamber 83. Near its bottom end, shaft 13 has passages 81 between bore 85 ,and achamber 88 formed in the upper surface of turret H and closed at the top by a flanged cover '89. Chamber 88 has three passages Bl-93 (Fig. 7) extending therefrom to the respective button chucks, suchas chuck (2. Since these latter passage and the valves therein are alike, a description of passage 9| and the valve therein will sufiice.

' Passage 9| is in communication with chuck via a passage 95. A valve stem 96 occupying passage 9| has an enlarged member 91 adapted in the position shown in Fig. 6 to close a passage 33 to atmosphere, and to in an alternative position engage a seat I00 to close the path between passages SI and 95 While connecting passage 95 to atmosphere via passage 99. With valve stem 96 in the position shown, button 4| is held in the chuck 12 by vacuum. Movement of stem 95 to its in position to release the button is arranged to occurafter turret LI has 1oweredthe button 4| over the tube perforation 18.

This is accomplished by a pneumatic unit I05 (Figs. 5 and 10) having a member I06 pneumatically operable into direct engagement with stem 96,and adapted to be restored by a spring'I'IO. Stem 96 in its movement to its in position causes a cylindrical ring I01 (Figs. 5-7) within chamber 88 to shift its position therein sufficiently to move the stems of the valves occupying passages 92 and 93' to their dut positions so that the chucks associated with them are con- ;ditioned to hold buttons when the latter are placed thereon. The buttons may be manually brought into engagement with such chucks, or conventional equipment may be used to load them, as desired. Ring 107 is provided with a number of passages [08 (Fig. 6) to prevent its interference with the communication of vacuum between chamber 88 and passages 9l-93.

Indexing of the turret H is effected by a driving connection comprising a ring gear III on table l3 in mesh with a pinion I I2 carried on the bottom end of a shaft I I3 adapted to drive a.

sprocket wheel 5 provided with a drive chain H6 also extending about the button turret sprocket wheel 16. The sizes of wheels 16 and H5, and of the pinion H2 and gear III, are such that turret H makes one-third revolution each time table I3 is indexed, and thus successively positions the respective turret-carried chucks, such as'chuck T2, over the perforations in tubes successively registered at the buttoninserting position.

The button-aligning equipment at position 9 includes a bracket |2| (Figs. 1 and 4), extending from spider 25 and provided with a differentialpressure pneumatic unit I22 similar to the unit 31, but equipped with a vacuum chuck 124 adapted to be lowered by the unit over asealedin button, such as button 4|, aligned thereunder whenever fluid is supplied to the upper end of the unit. Vacuum chuck I24 is activated at the proper time to lift the button and the surrounding softened glass to their original position with respect to the unsoftened glass of the tube wall, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Timing Timing of the connection of vacuum to chuck I 24, the operations of pneumatic units 23, 31, ifi, 52, 55, 6I, TI), 80, I05, I2ii, and I22, and the operations of the similar units at positions 2, 3, 5, and 7, are eifected by means of "re cam-actuated valves such, for example, as the valve V shown in Fig. 9. Valve V in its normal position blocks air supplied to its intake pipe I3I from passage therethrouah by means of a member I252 of a slide I33 normally held in the position shown by a spring let. on the other hand, at this position a pipe for connection with an end of a pneu- Ina-tic unit, such as unit 31, for example, is connected to atmosphere via a passage [36 through slide I33 and a passage I31 of the valve housing. Slide I33 is moved downward, having reference to 9, when a cam, such as, for example, cam I40 (Fig. 2) depresses a roller 538 carried by a slide actuator pivoted at I33. With slide IE3, in the latter position, a portion I ii of the valve housing blocks passage 5%, while member I32 opens a passage in the valve between pipes I3! and I35, thus admitting operating air to the end of the unit to which pipe I35 is connected.

Referring momentarily to Fig. 2, it will be noted that cam its and the other similar cams for controlling the operation of the respective pneumatic units of the entire apparatus are carried by a shaft I i-4 adapted to be continuously driven by motor til through a worm drive assembly I45 and a drive shaft Hi3 extending therefrom to the speed-reducing unit 23.

Referring now to Fig. 10, it will be observed that the forward end of each of the described pneumatic units 31, 46, 52, $5,153,238, IZo and IE2, and the corresponding ends of all. of the similar units, are normally supplied with air from supply line I553, whereby the pistons are normally maintained retracted within the units. Owing to greater exposed piston surface area available to air supplied to the rear ends of these units, they will advance their pistons whenever air is supplied to their rear ends, even though air continues to'be supplied to their forward ends. Air is selectively supplied to the rear of the above-referred to units from supply line via branch Ifii and laterals thereof through valves individual to the units similar to valve V. For example, unit 3'; is supplied with air over a path including branch if: I, lateral E52, valve VI, and conduit is at such time that the cam M (Fig. 2), associated with valve V I, operates it.

Fluid is supplied to the forward end of the table-indexing pneumatic unit 23 under control of a cam actuated valve V2 to cause rod 23 to release disc cam 52E) of the single revolution clutch 53 (Fig. 2). Return of rod 23 is by means of a spring Iii Mi when the supply of fluid to unit 23 is discontinued.

In a similar fashion fluid is supplied to the rear end of the button-release pneumatic unit m5 under control of a cam actuated valve V5 to cause element I08 (Fi 5) to move outward through a similar valve V8.

Safety feature As will be appreciated, since the piston rods of the lower pneumatic units 36, 52, 'l0, ancl I20, and the rods of other similar units not specifically referred to, in their forward position are in the path of travel of chucks 22, provision is desirable to positively prevent indexing of table I3 unless the rods of all such units are in their normal retracted position. This'isaccomplished by including in the fluid-supply line I56, extending between cam actuated valve V2 and unit 23, a valve similar to valve I'Iii (Fig. 8), having an operatingstem such as stem I16 normally 'held'in closed position. bya spring Iii, near each pneumatic unit and associating with the unit means for opening the associated valve only when the unit has its piston rod in its fully retracted position. This is accomplished in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein a valve H5 has an operating stem Ilil' adapted to be depressed by an actuator rod ISL? secured. to a bar I8I attached to the piston rod (not shown) of unit ll From the foregoing it will be appreciated that when cam actuated valve V2 is operated to supply operating fluid to the indexing-initiating unit 23, fluid can only reach such unit if valve I and the similar valves in supply line I56 are at the time being held open by their associated pneumatic units.

Operation Assuming motor so is running and that lower pneumatic unit 46 and the similar units are in their normal positions, and that a tube such as lil is placed on a chuck 222 at the loading position, the table-indexing operation wili be initiated under control of cam actuated valve V2 and pneumatic unit 23, and the chuck indexed to position 2. While the tube remains in position 2, the pneumatic units thereat corresponding to units 37 and 465 will move their burners to their alternative position to apply heat to the opposite surface areas of the portion of tube it to be perforated. Likewise, the units at the respective remaining positions 3 through 9 will also function at this time to perform their intended operations on other tubes, assuming, of course, that the chucks associated therewith are occupied.

In position 3 the necessary heating of the tube prior to perforating is completed. In position 4 units 52 and it operate to properly position die after which unit 52 operates to lower punch ii to effect perforation of the tube wall. In position 5 heat is applied to the glass bordering perforation to aid in bringing the temperature of the glass to that suitable for effecting a union between it and a button.

In position 6 unit it! is operated to bring the burner 59 carried by its operating rod into cilicient heat-applying relation to the glass surrounding the perforation, ano. unit Bil is operated to lower turret H to position the button carried by chuck '52 immediately over the tube perforation. moment later unit IE5 is operated to shift valve stem 9%; to its inward position to effect of the button from chuck 12. Obviously, restoration of units 58 and Hit? is effected immediately after they have performed their functions. Restoration of unit it may, if desired, be

to the subsequent indexing of table I 3.

In the subsequent positions '7 and 8, as will be understood, the necessary heat is applied to Weld the button to the border of the perforation.

In position 9, while the burner of unit I20 is being utilized to apply annealing flames to the inserted button and the surrounding glass, unit 'I22 lowers chuck I24 over the button and the surrounding softened glass. Under control of cam actuated valve V6 the associated vacuum supply line is momentarily connected via such valve and conduit I21 with chuck I24, which thereby lifts the button and the surrounding workable glass to the desired position with respect to the tube wall.- A moment later cam actuated valve V6 cuts off the vacuum supply from'chuck I24 and exhausts the chuck to atmosphere. Subsequently, unit I22 raises chuck I24 to its initial position clear of the path of H movement of the tube during the subsequent indexing of table I3. The operations occurring in position 9 are more fully described and claimed in thecopending application of Francis R.

Painter, Serial No. 148,608, filed March 9, 1950. h

In position the tube maybe removed from its chuck.

- Although the invention is shown embodied in an apparatus adapted to seal a conductive element in a cathode-ray tube wall, it obviously would be equally applicable to an apparatus for the sealing-in of other forms of elements in articles supported on suitable chucks of a similar rotatable table.

What is claimed is:

1. In a glass-working machine, means for initially locally heatinga wall area of a glass article, a punch and die assembly, means for associating said assembly with opposite sides of i the locally heated wall area, means for operating said assembly to perforate the article Wall thereat, means for freely depositing an electrically conductive element in the resulting perforation and on the glass bordering the same, said means including a vacuum chuck for holding said element in initial register over said perforation and means for thereafter disabling said chuck to release said element for deposit in said perforation, and means for heating the element and for further heating the surrounding glass on which It rests to seal them to one another.

2. In a glassworking machine a rotatable table, an article chuck arranged near the periphery of said table, means for rotating said table in step-by-step fashion to successively index said chuck at a plurality of stations, means positioned at one of such stations to initially locally heat a predetermined area of a Wall of a glass article occupying said chuck to a plastic condition, means positioned at a second station for removing a portion of the heated wall to form a perforation therethrough, said means including i a punch and die assembly, means for associatto apply heat to the" element and to further heat the adjoining glassto fuse them to one another. V a

3. In a glass-working machine a rotatable table, a chuck arranged on such table and adapted to hold a hollow glass article, means for indexing said table to successively position such chuck at a plurality of working stations, heating means arranged at a first of said stations, means to position said heating means into heat input relation with respect to a restricted wall area of an article held-in said chuck following the arrival of the chuck at such station and for restoring said heating means to its initial position prior to the indexing of said chuck to a second station, perforating means arranged at such second station, means for operating said perforating means following the arrival of the chuck at such second station to perforate the article in such restricted wall area, a holder arranged at a third station for suspending an electrically conductive element or the like, means for disabling said holder following the arrival of the chuck at said third station to release the element onto the wall immediately surrounding the perforation in the restricted wall area of such article, means operable following the arrival of the chuck at said third station to actuate said disabling means, heating means arranged at a fourth station, and means to temporarily position the latter heating means into heat input relation with respect to the restricted wall area of the article following the arrival of the chuck at such fourth station in order to effect a seal betweenthe article and the element.

4. A glass working machine such as defined by claim 3 wherein the holder comprises a. vacuum chuck and a vacuum line thereto and the disabling means includes a valve associated with the vacuum chuck and operable to close the vacuum line to the vacuum chuck and to bleed such chuck to atmosphere.

5. A glass working machine such as defined by claim 3 which includes means at such third position for lowering the holder to bring the electrically conductive element into close proximity to the article preceding its release from the holder.

6. A glass working machine such as defined by claim 3 in which said holder comprises one of a plurality thereof and which includes a turret supporting said holders, and a driving connection between said table and said turret of such ratio that said turret successively indexes a different holder at such third station each time said table is indexed.

'7. In a machine for sealing an electrically conductive element or the like to that wall portion of a hollow glass article surrounding a perforation therein, a rotatable table, a chuck arranged on such table and adapted to hold such a hollow glass article, means for indexing said table to successively position such chuck at a plurality of working stations, a holder permanently positioned at one of said stations for suspending an electrically conductive element, means for disabling said holder following the arrival of the chuck at such station to release the element onto the wall immediately surrounding the perforation in such article, means operable following the arrival of the chuck at such station to actuate said disabling means, heating means positioned at a subsequent station and means to temporarily position said heating means into heat input relation with respect to said element and the adjoining glass to heat the element and the article wall immediately surrounding it following the arrival of the chuck at such station in order to effect a seal between the article and the ele ment.

8. In a machine for sealing an electrically conductive element or the like to that wall portion of a hollow glass article surrounding a perforation therein, a rotatable table, a chuck arranged on such table and adapted to hold 1 such a hollow glass article, means for indexing said table to successively position such chuck at a plurality of Working stations, a holder permanently positioned at one of said stations for suspending an electrically conductive element, means for disabling said holder following the arrival of the chuck at such station to release the element onto the wall immediately surrounding the perforation in such article,

means operable following the arrival of the chuck at such station to actuate said disabling means, means for heating the element and the article 10 wall at a subsequent station and means to temporarily position said heating means into heat input relation with respect to said element and the adjoining glass to heat the element and the article wall immediately surrounding it in order to eflect a seal between the article and the element.

RAY A. HINKLEY.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

